Which Jesus Do You Follow

by Chuck Ness

Christians need to realize that being a true Christian does not mean you are to be proud and boastful. It does not mean that you will be blessed with money and riches as the prosperity pimps like T.D. Jakes, Kenneth Hagin, Joyce Meyer, Paul Crouch Paula White, Joel Osteen, Beth Moore and others preach. 

 No, true Christianity is a call to be imitators of Christ, not seekers of worldly goods. After all, what did Christ do? Did he go around town riding in style? No. Did he have tons of money? No. What did He do? He gave his own life to Save ours. Yet so many Christians walk around not helping others, not acknowledging others hardships or pain. All they do is show off their possessions and status in society while telling you, "I'll pray for you". The teachings of Christ call us to a life of action, not self-interest and Christian passivity.

I am by no means attempting to say that Christians should be poor and destitute. God says that He will bless those whom He chooses to bless, and history is full of good Christians who were well off. However, if a Christian's goal in life is that of luxury and ease, then I question that Christians true faith. Our goal in life as a Christian should be to do as Christ told us to do. Should any Christian wonder what it is Christ tells us to do, I suggest reading the "Sermon on the Mount". 

 I have always taught that the Sermon on the Mount is the constitution of Christianity, given by Jesus Himself. If you learn nothing else from the New Testament, I suggest you study and learn what it was Jesus said on that hill. One thing you will not find in the sermon is how to search for worldly wealth and prosperity.

I oftentimes find myself praying more for those whom the Lord has blessed with abundance than I do for those that have not been so blessed. The Lord said that it is easier for a camel to go through an eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to get into heaven. Jesus did not make that statement because He thought that rich people were evil. He said it because those who have abundance will find it difficult to keep their focus on Him. Money may be the root cause of many evils, it is not however evil in and of itself. When we strive for wealth, we are focusing on the world and not on His teachings; we are not, imitating Him.

True Christians realize that this world is nothing more than a wayside rest in our journey to the promise land. While at this wayside rest we are to do what Jesus taught us to do. The last lesson Jesus taught in His famous sermon was the lesson of building on a rock. Matthew 7:21-27 Jesus said that whomever hears what He says, and does it, He will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock, as apposed to a foolish man who built his house on sand. If you are not building upon the rock of Christ than you will not hear these sweet words from our Lord and Savior,

"Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord." Matthew 25:23

My suggestion to these false teachers offering a "You Name it, You Can Claim it" gospel, to read what Paul told the Galatians about those who would trouble them by wanting to pervert the gospel of Christ. He said that they were anathema, a votive offering if you will.

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other
gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be
accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again,
if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what
you have received, let him be accursed.
Galatians 1:8-9

A votive offering is a prayer candle, typically white or beeswax yellow. It was originally intended to be burnt as an offering in religious ceremonies, and in the days when Paul was spreading the gospel throughout the empire, he converted many who formerly worshiped pagan gods. In their ceremonies they would burn candles to their gods. Paul is telling those like the wealth and prosperity preachers that they will be burned up like those candles in the final fire when Christ returns and condemns them with the rest of the world.


For my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, I ask that you be a good Barean and do as John instructs you to do in his first epistle, where he writes;

(1) "do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they
are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world

(4) You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He
who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."
1 John 4:1 & 4:4

Do not follow these wolves in sheep's clothing, who's only desire is for you to follow them not Christ. So I ask you my dear brothers and sisters of Christ, which Jesus do you follow? Which Jesus do you serve? The Jesus of the wealth and prosperity charlatans, or the great I Am?

I pray that those who have ears to hear will hear His voice and call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen